Public should let forces wear uniforms with pride, says PM

Target of abuse: a servicewoman from RAF Wittering - where personnel have been advised not to wear uniforms in public - leaving a shop in nearby Wittering village

Gordon Brown today urged members of Britain's armed forces to wear their uniform in public.

The Prime Minister spoke out after airmen at an RAF base near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, were told to keep a low profile outside.

The head of RAF Wittering, Group Commander Rowena Atherton, imposed the ban after personnel were subjected to months of verbal abuse by opponents of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr Brown said he was outraged that British servicemen could be treated with so little respect.

"I condemn absolutely any members of the public who show abuse or discrimination to our armed forces," he said. "All our armed forces should be able to, and encouraged to, wear their uniform in public and have the respect and gratitude of the British people for the huge commitment to public service they show.

"The public will want to show our respect and gratitude to our armed forces and we will back up the police in their efforts to show that at RAF Wittering or anywhere else it's possible for the armed forces not only to wear their uniform but to have the thanks of the British public."

His comments put pressure on Commander Atherton to reverse the ban. Asked if the order would be lifted soon, Downing Street said: "That's very much the situation we would like to be able to get to."

Defence Secretary Des Browne announced an urgent inquiry into the decision, saying the right of soldiers, sailors and airmen to wear uniform in public had to be defended.

"It is a great shame that some individuals in this community don't have respect for our brave forces, who every day are doing a great deal for this nation," he said.

"This is not a situation we should be tolerating. I hope that by working closely with Peterborough City Council and the local police, service personnel at RAF Wittering will soon be able to wear their uniforms freely about the town with the support of the local people."

There was confusion about the extent of the abuse endured by the RAF personnel when out in Peterborough. Cambridgeshire police said they did not know of any incidents.

The town's Tory MP, Stewart Jackson, said: "My understanding is that it's a small number of incidents of verbal abuse. I think [the ban] should be rescinded and I've written to the Defence Secretary asking him to consider that."

Community leader Hasina Majothi said she was unaware of any ill feeling between local ethnic groups and RAF personnel. "It must have been an isolated incident," she said.

Ms Majothi, who runs an advice centre, added: "I don't see anything wrong with people wearing their uniforms. The RAF servicemen are only doing their job. They are only going where they go because of the Government."

Despite the political pressure, the Ministry of Defence insisted the ban was a matter for Commander Atherton, who made the decision after advice from RAF police.

Unlike the US, it is not customary for British servicemen and women to wear uniform in public - a practice dating back to when they were targets of Irish terrorism. But a review ordered by Mr Brown is expected to recommend that uniforms should be worn outside base as a means of improving public respect for the armed forces.

The Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy said he wanted to see the people responsible for the abuse punished.

He added: "We will wear our uniform and we should wear our uniform wherever we can in the UK. I think it's important that the British public see us in our uniform and also realise what we are achieving."